Automatic recording infiltrometer



Feb. 6, 1951 A. D. BULL 2,540,096

AUTOMATIC RECORDING INFILTROMETER Filed Aug. 19, 1949 I NVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1951 2,540,096 AUTOMATIC RECORDING INFILTROMETER Almond D. Bull, Woodward, Okla.

Application August 19, 1949, Serial No. 111,294

3 Claims. (01. 73-38) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928'; 370 0. G. 757) This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described, if patented in any country, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes throughout the world without the payment to me of any royalty thereon. a

This invention relates to an apparatus for de termining infiltration rates in soils. It particularly relates to an automatic apparatus for recording the amount of water infiltrating the soil in av given time;

An object of this invention is to provide an automatic recording apparatus capable of use in the field by persons comparatively unskilled in soil science. The determination of water permeability in soils is standard practice insoil surveys.

The apparatus is particularly useful in determining soil infiltration rates by the concentric ring method.

An additional advantage of the apparatus is its ready convertability into a rain gage.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an assembled view;

Figure 2 isa detail of the recorder;

Figure 3 is a detail of a water level visual indicator;

Figure 4 is a detail of a water-level maintaining float valve.

In Figure 1 concentric rings or casings l and 2 are driven into the ground 3 to obtain a water holding seal. Bar 4, placed upon the rings, supports constant water level maintaining blocks 5 and 6. Blocks 5 and 6 are adjusted to the same level by meansof screws 9jand l0, and thumb nuts I and 8. Water is added to bring the level up to the operating point on blocks 5 and 6, which level is preferably two inches. When the water level rises above floats ll (Figure 4) passage I2 is closed. Each block 5 and 6 is provided with a float II. I

In Figure 3, floats l3 and I4 operate pointers l5 and IE to indicate whether the same level is being maintained within the concentric rings.

Water from tank IT is not measured but is used to maintain the water level in the outer annulus between ring I and ring '2 at the same height as the water level inside ring 2. This holds the Water from ring 2 in place as it enters'the soil below. The water is run into block 5 through valve I8 and hose I9. I

Tank Zllsupplie's measured 'an'liounts of water.

belt 30.

ring 2, so that one inch of water removed from tank .20 is equivalent to one inch removed from ring 2. Water from tank 20 is run into block 6, into ring 2, through valve 2| and hose 22.

In operation, after adding water to adjust the level to blocks 5 and 6, valves l8 and 2| are thereupon opened. As water is used out of tank 20,

float 23 moves downwardly, carrying rod 24.

Rod 24 carries a pen 25 which is spring pressed 10 against drum 26. Drum 26 is turned at constant speed by clock 21 through pulleys 28 and 29, and Block 6 feeds the water at a constant head into ring 2 which holds the water in contact With the soil. As water is taken up by the soil, float 23 and pen 25 are lowered. The surface speed of the drum is preferably one inch per ten minutes.

The recorder is provided with a cover 3| and lid 32 useful in rough weather. The device may also be used as a rain gage. A funnel 33 and pipe 34 are provided for this purpose. Projection 25 on pen 25 abuts the frame 35, to prevent turning.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A recording liquid infiltrometer for soils, comprising: inner and outer casings adapted to be driven into the soil; means for feeding liquid into the annular space between the casings; means for feeding liquid into the inner casing; liquid level operated means to control the rate of feeding liquid into the annular space; second liquid level operated means to control the rate of feeding liquid into the inner casing; the means for feeding liquid into the inner casing including a reservoir; a record making instrument operated by the lowering of the liquid level in said reservoir. 2. A 5 recording water infiltrometer for soils, comprising: inner and outer casings adapted to be driven into the soil; means for feeding water into the annular space between the casings, including a float valve controlled water inlet in said space; means for feeding water into the inner casing including a float valve controlled water inlet in said casing; means to adjust the float valves at the same level; a reservoir for water communieating with the latter float valve controlled water inlet; a float in said reservoir; a record marker operated by the lowering of the liquid level in said =reservoir; and a rotating drum cooperating with inner and duter casings adapted to be driven into 7 the soil} lve. controlled means for maintaining Tank 20 is. preferably of the' 'san1e diameter as so ,aconstint eommon level of water inside the inner casing and in the annular space between the casr UNITED STATES PATENTS ings; a water reservoir; means for measuring and N r N recording the amount of water released, from the 23 g' fg reservoir, by the valve means into the inner cas- 996546 Watson Jun; 1911 ing per unit time, in maintaining said constant 5 water level. OTHER REFERENCES ALMOND BULI V Journal of the American Society of Agronomy,

REFERENCES CITED page The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent: 

